Fold-Over Newspaper Bag

ABSTRACT

A bag is provided for enclosing a newspaper or other periodical. The bag includes a bottom sealed end and a top enclosing end. The elongated bag preferably includes a first panel and a second panel secured to one another along their bottom and respective side edges. A third panel adjoins the top edge of the first panel and extends downwardly toward the bottom edge of the first panel. The right edge of the third panel is secured to the right edge of the first panel and the left edge of the third panel is secured to the left edge of the first panel. The first panel and the third panel cooperatively define a pocket oriented downwardly. The second panel includes a flap section which extends upwardly beyond the top edge of the first panel and the adjoining top edge of the third panel. The flap section of the second panel is folded over the periodical and inserted between the periodical and the first panel. The third panel is flexed over the flap section to extend downwardly over the second panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to protective covers for newspapers and otherperiodicals.

More particularly, this invention pertains to a flexible bag sized toreceive a newspaper or other periodical and including an integratedfold-over cap to enclose the newspaper or other periodical to protect itfrom inclement weather.

2. Description of the Related Art

Newspapers and other periodicals are generally printed on paper anddelivered outside the door of the subscriber, where they remain untilthe subscriber retrieves them. When weather conditions are dry, thenewspapers are generally secured with an elastic band and otherwiseunprotected from the weather. However, when precipitation is falling orexpected, it is common to insert the newspaper into an elongated plasticbag having a sealed end and an open end. Unfortunately, the open endallows moisture to enter into the bag and damage the newspaper. In orderto overcome the penetration of moisture into the bag, some newspaperdeliverers insert the newspaper into one bag and then insert the openend of the bag into the open end of a second bag (called double bagging)so that each end of the newspaper is adjacent to a sealed end of a bag.

Double-bagging, while relatively effective at minimizing moisture entry,is both time-consuming an expensive because two bags must be used. Also,because the bags are generally constructed from plastics and laterthrown away, this technique is a waste of resources.

One effort that has been made to avoid the double-bagging approach isdisclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. 319,177, issued to Dungjen on Aug. 20,1991. The newspaper bag disclosed therein appears to include anextension flap adjacent to the open end of the elongated bag and a stripof adhesive is applied to the distal end of the flap so that afterinsertion of the newspaper the flap may be secured to the outside of thebag with the adhesive strip. While avoiding the time and expense ofdouble-bagging, this bag still allows moisture to enter along the sidesof the flap. Moreover, the adhesive requires a slip sheet or some othermanner of preventing bags from adhering to one another when they arestacked and stored, adding additional expense to the bag

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a bag is providedfor enclosing a newspaper or other periodical. The bag includes a sidesealed, solid bottom end and a top enclosing end. The elongated bagpreferably includes a first panel and a second panel. The bottom edge ofthe first panel adjoins the bottom edge of the second panel. The rightedge of the first panel is secured to the right edge of the secondpanel. The left edge of the first panel is secured to the left edge ofthe second panel.

A third panel adjoins the top edge of the first panel and extendsdownwardly toward the bottom edge of the first panel. The right edge ofthe third panel is secured to the right edge of the first panel and theleft edge of the third panel is secured to the left edge of the firstpanel. The first panel and the third panel cooperatively define a pocketoriented downwardly. The second panel includes a flap section whichextends upwardly beyond the top edge of the first panel and theadjoining top edge of the third panel.

The length of the first panel is greater than the length of a rollednewspaper or other periodical inserted between the first panel and thesecond panel. After the periodical is inserted, the flap section of thesecond panel is folded over the periodical and inserted between theperiodical and the first panel. The third panel is flexed over the flapsection to extend downwardly over the second panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description of the invention readtogether with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stack of bags embodying various features ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of bag in accordance with the presentinvention prior to insertion of a rolled periodical.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of bag in accordance with the presentinvention after insertion of a rolled periodical.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of bag in accordance with the presentinvention after insertion of a flap. FIG. 2D is a perspective view ofbag in accordance with the present invention after enclosure of a rolledperiodical.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for enclosing a newspaper or other periodical to protectfrom moisture is disclosed. Referring to the drawings in which similarlynumbered features are common to the drawings a bag 10 is attached to asecuring panel 12. The securing panel 12 is secured to the bag 10 alonga line of weakness 14 provided by perforations, for example. Thesecuring panels 12 of a plurality of bags 10 are secured to form a stack11 of bags 10 which may be sequentially removed from the stack forenclosing periodicals.

Each bag 10 comprises a generally rectangular first panel 16, agenerally rectangular second panel 18 and a generally rectangular thirdpanel 20. The three panels 16, 18 and 20 are preferably formed from asingle sheet of non-porous, flexible material such as low densitypolyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) or highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) and preferably 1 mil in thickness, but mayhave a greater or lesser thickness.

The first panel 16 includes a bottom edge 22, an opposing top edge 24, aleft side edge 26 and an opposing right edge 28. The second panel 18includes a bottom edge 32, an opposing top edge 34, a left side edge 36,an opposing right edge 38 and a flap section 40. The third panel 20includes a bottom edge 42, an opposing top edge 44, a left side edge 46and an opposing right edge 48.

In the depicted embodiment, the panels 16, 18 and 20 are about 8 incheswide, the first panel 16 is about 15 inches tall, the second panel isabout 18 inches tall and the third panel is about 4 to 5 inches tall.

The bottom edge 22 of the first panel 16 is secured to the bottom edge32 of the second panel 18, as by folding, heat sealing or adhesive, forexample. The left side edge 26 of the first panel 16, extending from thebottom edge 22 to the top edge 24, is secured to a portion of the leftside edge 36 of the second panel 18, as by heat sealing or adhesive, forexample. The right side edge 28 of the first panel 16, extending fromthe bottom edge 22 to the top edge 24, is secured to a portion of theright side edge 38 of the second panel 18, as by heat sealing oradhesive, for example. The top edge 24 of the first panel 16 is notsecured to the second panel to thus define an open end of the bag 10 andaccess to the interior of the bag 10.

The top edge 24 of the first panel 16 is secured to the top edge 44 ofthe third panel 20, as by folding, heat sealing or adhesive, forexample. The left side edge 46 of the third panel 20, extendingdownwardly from the top edge 24 of the first panel, is secured to aportion of the left side edge 26 of the first panel 16, as by heatsealing or adhesive, for example. The right side edge 48 of the thirdpanel 20, extending downwardly from the top edge 22, is secured to aportion of the right side edge 28 of the first panel 16, as by heatsealing or adhesive, for example. The top edge 44 of the third panel 20is unsecured.

The second panel 18 includes a flap section 40 which extends above thetop edge 24 of the first panel 16 and the top edge 44 of the third panel20.

As described hereinabove, the bag 10 may be formed from a singleelongated sheet of material by folding the sheet in half to define thebottom edges 22 and 32, then folding the edge 44 downwardly to definethe top edges 24 and 44. Thereafter, the left edges 26, 36 and 46 may bejoined by heat seal or adhesive, for example, and the right edges 28, 38and 48 may be joined by heat seal or adhesive, for example.

In operation, a bag 10 is removed from a securing panel 12. Aperiodical, such as the newspaper 52, which may be rolled or flat, isinserted between the first panel 16 and the second panel 18 adjacent tothe top edge 24 of the first panel 16, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B.The length and width of the panel 16 are adapted to receive thenewspaper 52 so that the newspaper 52 preferably does not extend abovethe top edge 24 of the first panel 16 and the top edge 44 of the thirdpanel 20.

As depicted in FIG. 2C, the top edge 34 of the flap section 40 isextended over the newspaper and inserted between the newspaper 52 andthe first panel 16, thus capping the exposed end of the newspaper 52.

The bottom edge 42 of the third panel 20 is flexed upwardly and rolledover the flap section 50 to extend downwardly over the second panel 18and enclose the flap section 40 and the newspaper 52, as depicted inFIG. 2D.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that various materials anddimensions may be used for bags without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilledin the art that an improved bag for protecting periodicals from moisturehas been provided.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description ofseveral embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have beendescribed in considerable detail, it is not the intention of theapplicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appendedclaims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications willreadily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broaderaspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representativeapparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described.Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departingfrom the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.

1. A bag for enclosing a periodical comprising a first flexiblegenerally rectangular panel having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge,a right side edge and an opposing left side edge; a second flexiblegenerally rectangular panel having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge,a right side edge and an opposing left side edge; a third flexiblegenerally rectangular panel having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge,a right side edge and an opposing left side edge; said first flexiblegenerally rectangular panel and said second generally rectangular panelbeing secured along their respective bottom edges, right side edges andleft side edges; said third flexible generally rectangular panel beingsecured and said first flexible generally rectangular panel beingsecured along their respective top edges, right side edges and left sideedges.
 2. A bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second flexiblegenerally rectangular panel includes a flap section extending beyondsaid top edge of said first flexible generally rectangular panel.
 3. Abag in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first flexible generallyrectangular panel and said second flexible generally rectangular panelcomprise a continuous sheet of material.
 4. A bag in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said first flexible generally rectangular panel, saidsecond flexible generally rectangular panel and said third flexiblegenerally rectangular panel comprise a continuous sheet of material. 5.A method for enclosing a periodical in a bag comprising a first flexiblegenerally rectangular panel having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge,a right side edge and an opposing left side edge; a second flexiblegenerally rectangular panel having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge,a right side edge and an opposing left side edge; a third flexiblegenerally rectangular panel having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge,a right side edge and an opposing left side edge; said first flexiblegenerally rectangular panel and said second generally rectangular panelbeing secured along their respective bottom edges, right side edges andleft side edges; said third flexible generally rectangular panel beingsecured and said first flexible generally rectangular panel beingsecured along their respective top edges, right side edges and left sideedges; said method comprising: inserting said periodical between saidfirst flexible generally rectangular panel and said second flexiblegenerally rectangular panel; flexing said bottom edge of said thirdflexible generally rectangular panel over said top edge of said secondflexible generally rectangular panel to enclose said periodical withinsaid bag.
 6. A method for enclosing a periodical in a bag comprising afirst flexible generally rectangular panel having a top edge, anopposing bottom edge, a right side edge and an opposing left side edge;a second flexible generally rectangular panel having a top edge, anopposing bottom edge, a right side edge, an opposing left side edge anda flap extending above said top edge of said first flexible generallyrectangular panel; a third flexible generally rectangular panel having atop edge, an opposing bottom edge, a right side edge and an opposingleft side edge; said first flexible generally rectangular panel and saidsecond generally rectangular panel being secured along their respectivebottom edges, right side edges and left side edges; said third flexiblegenerally rectangular panel being secured and said first flexiblegenerally rectangular panel being secured along their respective topedges, right side edges and left side edges; said method comprising:inserting said periodical between said first flexible generallyrectangular panel and said second flexible generally rectangular panel;folding said flap over said periodical; inserting said flap of saidsecond flexible generally rectangular panel between said periodical andsaid first flexible generally rectangular panel; flexing said bottomedge of said third flexible generally rectangular panel over said topedge of said second flexible generally rectangular panel to enclose saidperiodical within said bag.